LOS ANGELES – D’Angelo Russell might be the Lakers’ starting point guard for the long-term future, but he won’t be in the lineup tonight when the Lakers (7-5) play host to the San Antonio Spurs (9-3) at Staples Center. Russell will sit out because of a sore left knee that the Lakers said has bothered him in recent days.

“It’s been sore and he’s been playing through it,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “I don’t know exactly what it is, but the doctor and him will meet later here and give us some more information. We’ll give him the night off.”

Russell practiced for most of Thursday before sitting out the last scrimmage so he could sit and ice his left knee. At the time, the Lakers did not indicate Russell had an injury.

Seldom-used Jose Calderon will start in place of Russell. Walton has been reluctant to include guards Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams in the starting lineup, because it disrupts the bench rotation.

Meanwhile, Lakers guard Nick Young will play against the Spurs after missing Thursday’s practice because of a head cold.

Mark Medina has been the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News since 2012. He also works as a Lakers insider for AM570 and is heard on national radio outlets, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Chris Mannix Show, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio and SB Nation Radio. Medina also appears frequently on Spectrum SportsNet and NBC4's "Going Roggin."

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